Japanese carmaker Toyota is recalling more than 400,000 cars in the US over fears of defects in the steering system, the company said Thursday.

The recall involves 373,000 Toyota Avalons sold between 2000 and 2004, and 39,000 2003-07 LX 470s from its luxury Lexus brand.

For the Avalons, there was a 'possibility that the vehicle's steering lock bar could break under certain conditions,' Toyota said in a statement. The Lexus defect involved the steering shaft, which Toyota said could disengage after a severe hit to the front wheels.

The recall is the latest in a series for Toyota. Earlier this year, the company was forced to recall more than eight million cars worldwide because of problems with sticking accelerator pedals, sliding floor mats and some braking problems.

The company's initial hesitation in implementing that recall caused massive damage to its reputation for safety and quality.

Toyota and other carmakers have since reacted very sensitively to reports of defects in their cars, leading the number of recalls in the US market to dramatically increase.